Category Archives: Steel

Similar to the common steel structure, offshore steel platform use steel property as the main structural members. There are some profiles which can be assembled for those members on the topside, jacket, and pile. Based on the importance and possible failure of each element during fabrication, installation, and production, structural members can be classified into three categories. They are special category (failure member would cause total or partial disfiguration of platform), first category (failure member would incur total or partial shutdown), and second category (those members that is not included in special and first category). All steel components cannot be repaired in special category while it can be only repaired during shutdown for first category. In addition, supplementary member parts which are not partaking in the overall strength and integrity of platform structures (handrails, ladders, stairs, grating, etc) are defined as non structural members. Normally, 250 MPa (36 ksi) or 350 MPa (50 ksi) of yield stress (fy) is often used for different categories. However, design basis or general specification from the client or particular guidelines should be followed.

Table below shows the classification of structural member categories on the topside, jacket and pile.

Description

Special Category

First Category

Second Category

Deck

Main Girder

Crane Boom Rest

Stiffener

Padeyes

Rolled Section and WPG

Secondary Girders

Deck Legs

Gussets

Joisting

Skidding Beam

Bracings

Plating

Crane Pedestals

Vent Booms

Hatch Covers

Jacket

Piles

Boatlanding support

Riser Protector

Jakcet Legs

Risres

Boat Landings

Padeyes

Riser Protector

Bumpers

Conductor Pipes

Conductor Guide

Mudmats

Buoyancy Tank

Shock Cells

Cans of Bracing

Crowns Rings

Wide Flange, Tubular, Box, Channel, Double Channel, Angle, Double Angle, Tee, and Plate Girder are the structural product which can be put on for offshore platform. Generally, main and secondary beam on deck can be designed by Plate Girder or Wide Flange. For small deck (access platform, mezzanine deck, or sump deck) purposes, Channel can also be utilized. Tubular profile with different outside diameter and wall thickness are recommended for designing deck leg, deck bracing, jacket leg, jacket bracing, jacket walkway, pile, boat landing, etc. AISC, that is code and standard for steel structure behavior, provide different product of steels with different sizes. Dimension, area, thickness, unit weight, section modulus, inertia, radius gyration, etc are given for engineer/company user, as well. Nevertheless, another steel profile are also available as project specification such as JIS and UK standard.